No one is a rock. No one is an island. We all need comfort, solace, advice and encouragement – especially when dealing with cancer. Becoming part of a community and sharing our experiences can greatly alleviate the isolation so prevalent in our society today – and connecting to those who are and have gone through the same illness can be a particularly effective way to learn from others and share your own insights and experiences. We welcome you to our sisterhood of sharing and support. – Marybeth and Debbie
Clean margins — does anyone know what the rules are about these? My surgeon told me 1/2 cm was fine, but I went for a second opinion and that doctor told me that if I were his patient, he'd require a full centimeter — thing is, my breasts are very small and I'm thinking if they take any more away I might as well have mastectomies — can anyone tell me if they've had this conversation with their doctor?
I have been told 4-5 mm is the clear margins that the doctors look for. I only have 1mm to 1.5 mm in the front and back respectively after bi-lateral mastectomies. I am considering going back in and taking more skin in the front and muscle from behind to create those margins rather than do radiation, which I know will completely mess up my reconstruction/skin.
In the past few months, I have spoken to lots of women that had lumpstectomies and then went back and did the mastectomies.
I'm not going to say the mastectomy was easy though…my hardest things really so far has been the reconstruction and the expanders used to re-create the breast which will eventually been switched to implants when all treatments are done (chemo). I am not used to stretching skin.
I get annoyed there there are some many schools of thought on all these topics – margins, treatments, etc. Everyone you speak to has a different opinion it seems. But talk to as many people that you can and be your own health advocate! No one else will be!
Marybeth Maida is a journalist and breast cancer survivor who has worked in television, film and web for more than 20 years. Debbie Kiederer is a 25 year veteran of the retail cosmetics industry, a digital strategist, and Founder and Principal of ChalkDust Consulting.
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